Medical | Page 390 of 472 | SpiritIndia.com

Health :: Testing athletes’ hearts saves lives – heart screening

If athletes’ hearts are tested the number of sudden cardiac deaths related to sports can go down significantly, say researchers from the University of Padua Medical School, Italy. For the last 24 years, all athletes in Italy have had to undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) test before engaging in competitive sports. Approximately 2% of people tested were found to have hidden heart problems and are kept from taking part in competitive sports.

Breastfeeding :: Breastfeeding does not make baby more intelligent

Breastfed babies are more intelligent because a higher percentage of highly educated mothers tend to breastfeed, say researchers from the Medical Research Council (UK) and the University of Edinburgh. A higher percentage of breastfed babies are brought up in a mentally stimulating environment. You can read about this study in the British Medical Journal.

Diabetes :: VeraLight outperforms fasting plasma glucose for diabetes screening

Researchers will report results of a follow-on study of the first non-invasive, diabetes-screening device that was able to significantly outperform the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test and the A1C test for identifying diabetes and pre-diabetes in individuals with one or more known risk factors for the disease. Presented at the 2006 Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians, held here, the study showed a prototype of the device was able to identify 29% more patients than the FPG test and 17% more patients than the A1C test. Both the FPG and A1C are blood tests used to screen and evaluate patients at risk for diabetes.

Multiple Sclerosis :: Fty720 – fingolimod reduces multiple sclerosis symptoms

The developmental oral therapy FTY720 (fingolimod) has demonstrated sustained benefits over two years in patients suffering from relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), indicating that it could provide an important new option for treating this disabling neurological disease estimated to affect more than 2.5 million people worldwide.

Health :: Antibiotic Ceftobiprole shows promise against MRSA infections

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, L.L.C. today announced that ceftobiprole, a novel cephalosporin(1) antibiotic in Phase III clinical trials, was found to be active against complicated skin infections caused by common, potentially deadly bacteria, including MRSA. These data were from two poster presentations given at the 46th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC). These data also were highlighted by ICAAC. Ceftobiprole is being co-developed with Basilea Pharmaceutica, Ltd. through an exclusive worldwide collaboration.

Smoking :: Pfizer’s anti-smoking pill Champix approved in europe

Pfizer Inc said today that the European Commission has approved Champix(R) (varenicline), a novel pill for smoking cessation in adults. In addition, because smokers often need considerable support to quit successfully, Champix will be available with a patient support plan which smokers can customize to address their individual behavioral triggers as they try to quit smoking.

Lymphoma :: New indications for rituxan in patients with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma

Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) and Biogen Idec, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved, after a Priority Review, two additional uses for Rituxan(R) (Rituximab) for patients with CD20-positive, B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). One new indication for Rituxan is for first-line treatment of previously-untreated patients with follicular NHL in combination with CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone) chemotherapy. The second new indication is for the treatment of low-grade NHL in patients with stable disease or who achieve a partial or complete response following first-line treatment with CVP chemotherapy.

Cholesterol :: Gene transfer good cholesterol cuts vascular plaque, inflammation

Transfer of a gene that produces a mutant form of good cholesterol provides significantly better anti-plaque and anti-inflammation benefits than therapy using the “normal” HDL gene, according to a mouse study conducted by cardiology researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and reported in the Oct. 3 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Vitamin D :: Protects against colorectal cancer, breast cancer pancreatic cancer

Taking vitamin D cut the risk of pancreatic cancer nearly in half, according to a new study that is being called the first to show such a benefit.

Skin Cancer :: Alternative Treatment Options for Skin Cancer

If you someday become diagnosed with skin cancer and survive, one of the most worrisome issues you will face will be preventing a recurrence of the cancer. After successful treatment, your doctor will continue to schedule regular follow-up appointments to ensure that you remain skin cancer-free. Even regular medical attention is no substitute for exercising good skin care habits.